Not cooling
Often traced to the condenser fan, the start relay, the temperature control or the sealed system.
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Refrigerator repair · Ottawa · Gatineau
Refrigerator repair in Ottawa and Gatineau.
Not cooling, leaking, noisy or frosting up. The technician tests the fridge, explains the fault and gives you a written quote before any repair.
Diagnostic$89+ tax
Residential diagnostic visit. The repair is quoted in writing before any work.Sealed-system work (refrigerant, compressor) is diagnosed at $159 + tax.
Online requests are confirmed by call or text.
- TSSA-certified gas work
- In business since 1995
- Factory-authorized repairs
- 5.0 on Google · 59 reviews (Oct 2026)
OttawaONGatineauQC
Written diagnostic report
- Fault
- Explained on site
- Quote
- Approved first
- Warranty
- 3 months
- Diagnostic$89 + tax residential
- Sealed system$159 + tax diagnostic
- LanguageEnglish & French
- Warranty3 months on repairs
01What is it doing?
Start from the symptom
Each guide explains what the symptom usually points to and what is safe to check yourself. Ready to book? Pick the symptom and it is filled in for you.
Leaking water
Often a blocked defrost drain, the water inlet valve, or the ice-maker or dispenser line.
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Noisy or clicking
Often a fan motor, the compressor start relay, or the ice maker cycling.
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Ice maker not working
Often the water inlet valve, the ice-maker module, low water pressure or the freezer temperature.
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Frost or ice build-up
Often the door gasket seal, the defrost heater, or the defrost sensor or control.
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Freezing food
Often a temperature sensor, a stuck air damper or a setting that is too cold.
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02Before you book
Safe checks first
Five minutes that sometimes save a visit, and always make it faster. Skip anything you are not comfortable doing.
- Check the temperature settingFridge at 4 °C or colder, freezer at −18 °C. A dial can get bumped while loading groceries.
- Make sure the doors close and sealLook for food blocking a door, or a gasket that is torn or folded.
- Clear the vents insidePacked shelves can block the vents that move cold air between the freezer and the fridge.
- Listen for the fan and compressorNote what you hear, or don’t hear. It helps the technician narrow it down.
- Unplug, then clean the condenser coilsDust on the coils underneath or at the back makes the fridge work harder.
- Completely dead? Check the breaker and outletReset a tripped breaker once. If it trips again, stop and call.
Stop using it and unplug if you notice
- A burning smell, smoke, or scorch marks near the controls or the back
- Hissing, an oily residue or a chemical smell near the tubing
- Water pooling near the outlet or the power cord
- The breaker trips again after you reset it
- Sparks or a buzzing sound from the control area
While you wait, keep the doors closed: a closed fridge generally keeps food cold for about 4 hours, a full freezer for about 48 (Health Canada power-outage guidance). Then call 613-301-0016.
03The visit
What a refrigerator diagnosis looks at
The technician tests the refrigerator system by system, finds the fault and explains it before you decide anything.
- A written diagnostic report after the visit.
- A written quote you approve before any repair.
- Repairs carry a 3-month warranty.
Diagnostic sheet · refrigerator
Controls & sensors
Control board, display, temperature sensors
ElectricalAirflow
Evaporator and condenser fans, vents, damper
AirflowDefrost system
Heater, defrost sensor or timer, drain
DefrostDoor seal
Gaskets, alignment, hinges
SealWater & ice
Inlet valve, water lines, ice-maker module
WaterSealed system
Compressor and refrigerant circuit
$159 + tax- You get the fault explained, a written report and a written quote.
05Pricing
What a refrigerator repair costs
The diagnostic is a fixed fee. The repair is quoted in writing once the fault is known, and these are the things that move that number.
Diagnostic visitFee
Residential diagnostic
Visit and diagnosis; written quote before any repair
$89+ tax
Sealed-system diagnostic
Refrigerant, compressor
$159+ tax
Commercial refrigeration
Reach-ins, walk-ins
$129+ tax
After-hours visit
Between 9 PM – 7 AM
+$100flat
The part
Part prices vary widely. A sensor or a fan is a smaller job than a control board.
Labour and access
Built-in, counter-depth and panel-ready models can take longer to reach.
Sealed-system work
Refrigerant and compressor repairs need specialised equipment. The diagnostic is $159 + tax.
Travel
Travel charges may apply more than 30 km from downtown Ottawa.
- Diagnostic visit$89 + tax, residential. The technician finds the fault.
- Written quoteYou see the repair price and approve it first.
- RepairNothing is repaired until you approve the quote. Repairs carry a 3-month warranty.
06Dispatch, step by step
How a refrigerator repair works
Four stages. A request is not an appointment until we confirm it with you.
Request sent · not yet booked
Request
Book online or call. Tell us the appliance, brand and what it’s doing.
Next: we call or text you
- Appointment starts here
Booking confirmed
Confirm
We call or text to confirm a time window. Your booking is confirmed only then.
Your confirmed time window
Fault found
Diagnose
The technician tests the appliance and explains the fault. $89 + tax residential.
Written diagnostic report
Quote approved
Repair
You approve the written quote first. Repairs carry a 3-month warranty.
3-month repair warranty
A request is not an appointment. Your visit is booked once we confirm a time window with you by call or text.
07Warranty
Repairs carry a 3-month warranty
- Ask for the written warranty terms with your quote.
- Keep your written diagnostic report and quote. Together they record what was repaired.
08In depth
Refrigerator repair, explained
The refrigerators we repair
We repair household refrigerators of every common layout, in homes and in suites of multi-unit buildings across Ottawa and Gatineau:
- French-door and four-door models, including bottom-freezer drawers
- Side-by-side refrigerators with through-the-door ice and water
- Top-freezer and bottom-freezer refrigerators
- Counter-depth and built-in / panel-ready units
- Ice makers and water dispensers on all of the above
- Upright and chest freezers (see freezer repair)
Commercial reach-ins, prep tables and walk-in coolers are handled by our commercial refrigeration service.
What a refrigerator diagnosis involves
A refrigerator problem usually shows up as one symptom — warm food, water on the floor, a new noise — but it can come from several parts. The technician works through the system rather than guessing:
- Temperatures first. Readings in the fresh-food and freezer compartments tell us whether the problem is cooling, air circulation or defrost.
- Airflow and defrost. If the freezer is cold but the fridge is warm, the usual suspects are the evaporator fan, a frosted-over evaporator coil (a defrost heater, sensor or control fault) or a stuck air damper.
- Compressor and condenser. We check that the compressor starts and that the condenser fan runs and the coils are clear. A compressor that clicks on and off can point to a start relay or overload rather than the compressor itself.
- Controls and sensors. Thermistors and the control board are tested against the manufacturer's values, and any error code is read.
- Sealed system, only if needed. If the evidence points to refrigerant or the compressor, we explain what that means before going further. Sealed-system diagnosis is priced separately (see below).
You get the cause, the options and a written quote. Nothing is repaired until you approve it.
What refrigerator repair costs
The residential diagnostic is $89 + tax. When the fault is in the sealed system — refrigerant or compressor — the sealed-system diagnostic is $159 + tax, and that work is quoted after diagnosis.
The repair price depends on:
- The part. Fans, sensors and door gaskets cost far less than control boards, and much less than sealed-system work.
- Access. Built-in and panel-ready units, and fridges in tight cabinetry, take longer to reach.
- Availability. Some parts are stocked by local suppliers; others must be ordered. We tell you which before you approve.
- Age and condition. On an older refrigerator we will say plainly when a repair is not worth it.
Typical price ranges are in our refrigerator repair cost guide, and our repair-or-replace guide walks through the decision.
10By area
Refrigerator repair near you
Local pages for the neighbourhoods we serve most, with what is specific to each.
11Coverage
Refrigerator repair on both sides of the river
Two primary markets, one dispatch: Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec.
Also serving
12Before you book
Refrigerator repair, answered
Not sure what it is? Call and describe it.
613-301-0016Is it worth repairing an older refrigerator?
Often, yes — fans, sensors, defrost parts and gaskets are modest repairs on any age of fridge. Sealed-system work on an older unit is where the numbers get harder; we give you both figures so you can decide. Our repair-or-replace guide explains the rule of thumb.
How long does a refrigerator repair take?
Some repairs are finished on the first visit. Others need a part ordered for your model; we tell you which before you approve the quote.
Do you repair built-in and panel-ready refrigerators?
Yes, including premium built-in brands. Access takes longer on built-in units, which the quote reflects.
What is the sealed-system diagnostic?
When the evidence points to refrigerant or the compressor, the sealed-system diagnostic is $159 + tax. Refrigerant work itself is quoted after diagnosis.
How much is the visit?
The residential diagnostic is $89 + tax. The repair is quoted in writing before any work starts.
Can you repair my fridge today?
A same-day visit is possible when the schedule allows. Send a request with the brand and what the fridge is doing, and we call or text to confirm a time window, today if there is room, otherwise the first available slot. Keep the doors closed while you wait; our same-day repair page explains how it works.
Do you replace refrigerator compressors?
Yes, as sealed-system work. A compressor that clicks on and off is sometimes only the start relay, so the fault is confirmed first: compressor faults are diagnosed at the $159 + tax sealed-system rate, and the labour for a replacement is quoted by phone. On an older fridge, weigh the total against the price of a new one before you decide.
My fridge door does not close or seal. What causes it?
Usually a torn or flattened gasket, a sagging hinge, overfilled door bins, or a fridge that has lost its slight backward tilt so the doors no longer swing shut. The technician checks the gasket, hinges, levelling and door switch, and quotes a new gasket if the old one no longer seals. Worth fixing early: a door that leaks cold air makes the fridge run longer and builds frost inside.
Why is my fridge beeping?
Most often it is the door alarm: a door left ajar or a gasket that is not sealing. Many models also sound an alarm when the inside has warmed up, for example after a power outage, or when the control shows an error code. Close the doors and give it time to cool down; if the beeping continues or a code appears, note the code in your request, since codes differ from model to model.
My fridge is dead or the display is blank. What should I check?
Check the outlet and reset a tripped breaker once; after a power outage, give the fridge several minutes to restart. If the breaker trips again, leave the fridge unplugged. A surge or wear can damage the control or power board, and if the lights come back but the fridge never starts cooling, the compressor start relay is a common suspect. We test the board before recommending a new one, and you approve the written quote before any repair.
13Ready when you are
Book your diagnostic visit.
Ottawa and Gatineau. $89 + tax residential diagnostic; the repair is quoted in writing before any work. We call or text to confirm your time window.